Anyone had issues with elective c section? Almost 39 weeks and worried

[Sandyview]

Due to have second baby soon (I’m 38 weeks + 4) , I requested an elective c section at
my first appointment.
With dc1 I had to change hospitals at 36 weeks as original hospital were being very difficult about having an elective.
This time as original hospital is a lot closer and we have another child I decided to give it another go. I was also reassured by my midwife I’d have no issues this time around up until now.

I had a consultant appointment at 36 weeks and she forgot to prescribe the required medication, I spent an hour sat in the hospital pharmacy waiting for it and they had no prescription request for me.
Yesterday I was phoned and given 20 minutes notice to get to the hospital for the pre op, I had to drop everything and arrange last minute child care as they told me I had to get there for the appointment time . When I arrived the woman carrying out the pre op then spent 15 minutes at reception chatting to a colleague who wasn’t at work, she’d just popped in.

I was then told by this lady to phone the hospital at 730am next Friday, I asked why I needed to phone instead of just go in (like my previous section) she didn’t give a proper answer, she said ‘they’re really busy and struggling to fit everyone in’ . I’m not convinced they’re taking any of this seriously and I’m just being left and forgotten about. I’m now extremely worried I’ll go into labour and be told I can’t have the c section.
I’ve been on anxiety medication since I became pregnant again and have been doing really well however this has completely sent me on a spiral. I haven’t slept and can’t eat I’m so worried about going into labour early. Last time I had my section at 38 + 5 as they took my concerns seriously.

I guess I’m just wondering from anyone else’s experience what, if anything I can do?
I don’t know if I’ve got time to switch hospitals now, but I’m expecting to be bumped next Friday and told they have no space to do it. I don’t know where that leaves me if I go into labour and I’m really terrified.

If you are booked for a section and you start labouring, you will go in as an emergency, and still get your section.
Just be aware to ring straight away if things start moving.

My second was an ELCS. I had to advocate for myself in order to make sure all the necessary things happened but I think since the Ockenden report they know they have to fit you in somewhere. Ringing on the morning was standard in my trust, believe it or not the systems don’t speak to each other and there are women who are booked for an ELCS who will have given birth already so they can’t really sort the list for the day until they know what they’re dealing with, including having an eye on how many emergencies they’re likely to have.

The pre-op appt timing sounds like a shambles though, I’d contact PALS about that.

this is a reasonably common thing - unfortunately the huge increase in people wanting sections hasn't been matched by a huge increase in staffing/theatre time. They've probably filled their elective capacity with patients who are high risk/have medical need etc and use their LW theatre for doing the lower risk electives so when it gets done will depend on their labour ward activity. It's frustrating for everyone but there is finite elective operating capacity and that has to go to people with the higher risk cases first (and it's probably going to get worse as more people having electives end up with complex sections for their future deliveries).

I understand why you're feeling anxious and annoyed about it but it's a positive that you've had your pre op and presumably have a date for the section very soon?

I'm having an ELCS (2nd baby) and mine is booked for 39+3 - first baby was born at 38 weeks so it is a concern about going into spontaneous labour first but apparently the new guidelines are 39 weeks+ unless there's a specific reason it needs to be earlier